Siesta Key Travel Guide

  Siesta Beach
by Gillybob
 
  • Siesta Beach
      Siesta Beach
    by Gillybob
  • Beach Access at Siesta Key
      Beach Access at Siesta Key
    by tvdandy
  • Lelu Coffeehouse, Siesta Key, FL
      Lelu Coffeehouse, Siesta Key, FL
    by tvdandy
  • Blue sky & clear Gulf water
      Blue sky & clear Gulf water
    by tpangelinan
  • Sunset on the Key
      Sunset on the Key
    by HotSpotJ
 

Pro

HotSpotJ profile photo

  Great Beach, good food, decent nightlife 


Con

tvdandy profile photo

  Not much but bars and restaurants in village, so beaching or drinking for the most part 


In a nutshell

tpangelinan profile photo

  A must go for beach lovers! 

 

Explore Siesta Key

Things to Do  

Visit Siesta Beach

Visit Siesta Beach, Siesta Key

 Gillybob Says:  Siesta Key has a wonderful, laid-back feel to it. I only had a short visit here but I spent that time on the beach where, in October, the waters were wonderfully warm and the sand pristine and white. In fact, it was a good job I had my sunglasses with me because the... 

Nightlife island style

Nightlife island style, Siesta Key

 tvdandy Says:  What is nice about the nightlife in Siesta Key is that all the bars are walking distance in Siesta Village. Many open air pubs with live reggae music streaming out. Very fun, but not out of control, this has a much more relaxed vibe compared to Miami Beach 

The Village Stroll

The Village Stroll, Siesta Key

 tvdandy Says:  A good way to kill a afternoon or evening is to stroll Siesta Village. This is about a 4 block radius, so an easy walk. Here you will find your standard surf shops, coffeehouses, restaurants with outdoor seating, open air bars built in that classic old school Florida style... 

Why everybody else goes, the beach!

Why everybody else goes, the beach!, Siesta Key

 tvdandy Says:  90% of the reason to go to Siesta Key is the beach. As I said, I cannot emphasize enough how soft and cool the white sands feel on your feet even during the hottest days. The public beach has about 800 parking spaces, so get there early. 

Check out Turtle Beach!

Check out Turtle Beach!, Siesta Key

 tpangelinan Says:  If Siesta Beach is too full the ncheck out Turtle Beach, another beautiful beach here on Siesta Key. Lots of parking, clean water and beach, perfect. Turtle Beach is located near the south end of the island. 

The Shelling is good here

The Shelling is good here, Siesta Key

 tpangelinan Says:  If you like shelling you will have good luck here. The beaches here are great to take a walk and pick up shells so bring a bag with you. if you have little ones this is a great way to keep them busy, bring several bags! 

Go to the Beach! Siesta Beach

Go to the Beach! Siesta Beach, Siesta Key

 tpangelinan Says:  Siesta Beach is one of the most perfect beaches we have been to. The beautiful white sand is 99% pure quartz which not your normal crushed coral & shells or rock sand. It very soft, ground finer then sugar and people have said it never get hot. The waves are very calm, great... 

Tropical Wine Tastings

Tropical Wine Tastings, Siesta Key

 NatureGurl Says:  We stumbled upon this wine shop in the Siesta Village last weekend and they have daily wine tastings of really different types of wines: like mango, pineapple, even carrot. It sounds like it wouldn't be good - but it really was - and I normally don't like fruity wines. We... 

Hotels  

Sea Spray Resort on Siesta Key

 76 Opinions

Sara Sea Resort

 106 Opinions

Restaurants  

Capt. Curt's: You too may leave hungry!!!

Capt. Curt's: You too may leave hungry!!!, Siesta Key

 vhasouth Says:  Capt. Curt's is supposed to be one of the outstanding seafood restuarants in the Siesta Key area. I feel it is an overpriced tourist trap. For $13 a plate we received 2 pieces of ALASKAN whitefish and 8 shrimp; of course there was a huge mound of fries and a scoop of slaw.... 

Sugar & Spice: Fantastic food and great value

Sugar & Spice: Fantastic food and great value, Siesta Key

 Bexy13 Says:  This is an Amish restaurant and the food served is typical American fare but with a home cooking style. Service is always promt and friendly and you get more than enough to eat without breaking the bank. Ideal place for families.They have an extensive menu, plus a dish of... 

Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar: Fantastic seafood

Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar: Fantastic seafood, Siesta Key

 Bexy13 Says:  Casual family restaurant mostly serving seafood with rib and salads too. Chidrens menu available.Seafood in this restaurant is fantastic - the crab salads are really something. Word of warning thought - the size of the servings is enormous unless you are starving! Service is... 

Nightlife  

Gilligans: Stumble back to the Room

Gilligans: Stumble back to the Room, Siesta Key

 HotSpotJ Says:  This place has really expanded since I lived here in 2002. You now have a very cool back bar with a little Tiki atmosphere where you and your new dance partner can go chill out....and this place will be very close to your room if you stay near the Village, so no DUI's... 

Club Escapes: Beach Club Atmosphere

Club Escapes: Beach Club Atmosphere, Siesta Key

 HotSpotJ Says:  Went here on Saturday, had a good time,drinks were not too pricey, this club is not on the Key, its about a mile off of the South bridge on Clark. And, by the time you read this, as clubs go, it might be gone. Beach attire, though I would try to dress up a little if nothing... 

Transportation  

Car & Plane

Car & Plane, Siesta Key

 bluegaelic Says:  A rental car is the best bet. I am not sure of the public transportation in Siesta Key/Sarasota area. I do know there are cabs. Yet the fee would not be cost effective.Sarasota/Brandenton Airport does have commercial flights arriving and departing. 

Shopping  

Created Gems in Gold and Silver: A lot of bling, for little ching! :-)

Created Gems in Gold and Silver: A lot of bling, for little ching!  :-), Siesta Key

 TheTravelSlut Says:  Created Gems is a locally owned and operated jewelry store located on picturesque Siesta Key, a barrier island west of Sarasota on Florida's Gulf Coast, 1 hour south of Tampa.The shop has a unique variety of items but specializes in 14kt yellow or white gold jewelry items... 

Siesta Key Tropical Wines: Cool Wine and Gift Shop

Siesta Key Tropical Wines: Cool Wine and Gift Shop, Siesta Key

 NatureGurl Says:  This wine shop has a tropical-beach theme with tropical music playing in the background. There's a beautiful lighted large mermaid fountain in the back corner that's a must see. Tropical and citrus wines, ports, sherry's. Mixes for smoothies and sangria. Tropical fruit... 

Local Customs  

Sandpipers

Sandpipers, Siesta Key

 zrim Says:  The sandpiper is a funny little bird. It scuttles along the edge of the water hunting for microscopic morsels of food (crustaceans, aquatic insects etc.), but it wont ever let its feet get wet. It is a never-ending game of running towards the receeding tide, pecking at the... 

The quieter side of the street

The quieter side of the street, Siesta Key

 zrim Says:  This is the view from my parents' porch. They reside on the intracoastal side of the key. Not as noisy and boisterous as the gulf side. Personally, I favor the views of the intracoastal because there are always boats trolling up and down the waterway. 

Favorites  

Lots and lots of gulls

Lots and lots of gulls, Siesta Key

 zrim Says:  Many different species of gulls along the Florida coasts. Can be a nuisance, but if you stop to take a closer look, the gull can be a pretty bird. This type is the royal tern. It lives in colonies that can number 10,000. When I was a kid, I'd take scraps of stale bread down... 

Condominiums crowd the beach

Condominiums crowd the beach, Siesta Key

 zrim Says:  Building has been booming ever since I first visited Siesta Key in 1973. Each time there is a new highrise that is fancier than all the rest. Some condominiums are now selling at a price that exceeds $1,000,000. That's a lot of dough for an ocean view. 

The Place

Plan a Siesta Key vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Siesta Key locals

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The People

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Our Members Say
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 While visiting Siesta Key you must relax on the white beach, explore the Point of Rocks on the south end of the key, and enjoy the local villiage. My fondest... 

1 member lives in Siesta Key

 

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Top Siesta Key Writers

1

Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida

HotSpotJ profile photo

 For me, Siesta Key is one of the more relaxing spots I have found in the state of Florida. It combines one of the most beautiful beaches in America with an almost lazy atmosphere that makes for a... 

2

Siesta Key/Sarasota

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 Siesta Beach is billed as being the softest/whitest sand in the world. I believe it. It is 99% pure quartz and feels like you are in baby powder 

3

Bluegaelic's new Siesta Key Page

bluegaelic profile photo

 I have been vacationing in Siesta Key, Florida since I was a child. I recently married on the gorgeous, white beach. I love visiting this area and have always had a wonderful vacation. I hope to... 

4

White Sands

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 I've traveled to Siesta Key more than any other destination (over 30 times now). It is not necessarily my favorite holiday destination, but my parents live there full-time now. So if I'm going to see... 

5

Siesta Key

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 We 'discovered' Siesta Key about 5 years ago and have returned yearly ever since. If you want a truly relaxing, laid back holiday after stressing out for the rest of the year, then Siesta Key is the... 

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